Montana airports get support from two new lawsMontana airports get support from two new laws

May 4, 2007

Montana airports get support from two new laws

Two bills that will help private- and public-use airports in Montana have been signed into law by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. The first bill, House Bill 122, corrects a mistake in the law, allowing state-owned airports to lease airport property for up to 40 years instead of the previous 10 years. The former language had made it difficult to get financing for development. And private landowners who don't charge the public to use their airstrips for recreational purposes are now protected by a limited liability law, created by Senate Bill 318. The law adds landowners of airstrips for "private, noncommercial flying" to the protections under the state's recreational use statute. AOPA Northwest Regional Representative Mike Ferguson had successfully testified on both bills.